As health systems continue to shape their approach to authentic community engagement, there is a unique opportunity for community health, health equity, and philanthropy executives to collaborate to maximize the impact of these initiatives. This roundtable explores how leaders from Inova and IU Health have leveraged strategic collaboration to scale community engagement and impact while avoiding common missteps in traditional approaches to community engagement and philanthropic funding.
Key Takeaways
Transform healthcare delivery by aligning philanthropy with community needs: By actively diversifying their donor base and engaging community voices through the Health Equity Action Committee, Inova was able to launch community-centered programs such as their pediatric and primary clinics located in underserved areas. Multiple health systems are integrating the community voice through similar mechanisms to ensure that philanthropic funds are aligned with community priorities.
Amplify health system impact through strategic capacity-building: IU Health’s Community Impact Investment (CII) Fund Health extends beyond traditional funding by transferring grant-writing expertise, leading co-fundraising efforts, and helping secure additional funding streams. This collaborative approach encourages enhanced sustainability of community health programs beyond any single institutional commitment.
Philanthropy is a critical catalyst for health equity: Breakout room participants highlighted the importance of philanthropic support for initiatives that might otherwise go unfunded, with donor engagement proving most effective when they can witness tangible community impact firsthand. Attendees cited numerous examples of collaboration with health system Foundation arms to successfully launch and maintain mobile screening units, community health centers, and targeted outreach programs that would have received "zero dollars" from operational budgets.
There is opportunity for formalizing strategic collaboration between health equity and philanthropy: Although all health systems on the line had a relationship between health equity and philanthropy, only 5 different health systems reported having a defined collaborative strategy and governance structure in place.